AFTER SUNSET (C-) The kind of lackluster heist movie that makes you wonder whether the whole genre shouldn't fade into the sunset. Pierce Brosnan brings little to the role of a diamond thief who's living in the Caribbean with his shapely girlfriend and accomplice (Selma Hayek). An FBI agent (Woody Harrelson) follows, hoping to catch Brosnan in the act of stealing a diamond that's being displayed on a cruise ship.
Rated: PG-13. Mild profanity.
ALFIE (B) Jude Law tries his hand at the role that helped establish Michael Caine as an international star in 1966. Law plays the womanizer Alfie, only this time the story shifts from London during the '60s to contemporary New York. A commanding performance by Law and a pleasingly slick application of style from director Charles Shyer put some new spin on an old yarn. Marisa Tomei, Jane Krakowski, Nia Long and Susan Sarandon portray the women in Alfie's life.
Rated: R. Nudity, profanity and sexual material.
AROUND THE BEND (C) Normally, a movie starring Michael Caine and Christopher Walken would generate instant appeal. But in "Around the Bend," Caine's character dies early, and Walken's character inherits a script that confuses quirky touches with idiosyncratic observation. Caine plays a dying archaeologist who hopes to bring about a reconciliation between his estranged son (Walken) and his grandson (Josh Lucas).
Rated: R. Profanity.
BEING JULIA (B) There are 2-1/2 reasons to see director Istvan Szabo's adaptation of a Somerset Maugham novella about the British theater in the 1930s. First, Annette Bening, who holds the movie together as Julia Lambert, a stage diva who never underestimates her own powers. Second, a great payoff that allows Bening to strut her most manipulative stuff. Give the 1/2 to Jeremy Irons, who portrays Julia's husband. The plot kicks in when a bored Julia falls for a younger man (the miscast Shaun Evans).
Rated: R. Adult themes, profanity, nudity.
BIRTH (C-) Nicole Kidman plays a Manhattan woman who believes her late husband has been reincarnated as a 10-year-old boy from Brooklyn. Director Jonathan Glazer ("Sexy Beast") can't keep the movie from silliness, although he sure tries. Grazer directs with so much solemnity you wonder whether he was trying for something on the order of Ingmar Bergman meets "The Sixth Sense." Slowly paced and full of self-importance, "Birth" fails as both character study and oddball drama.
Rated: R. Nudity, profanity.
BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON (C-). Renee Zellweger gained weight for the sequel, but her character seems to have lost a good deal of her charm. This second helping can be awfully silly — and for the most part it rehashes all the themes of the first movie. Colin Firth returns, as does Hugh Grant, who actually manages to bring some welcome life to the proceedings.
Rated: R. Profanity, sexual material.
ENDURING LOVE (B) A guilt-ridden professor (Daniel Craig) is stalked by a psycho (Rhys Ifans) in this intelligent, pulsating adaptation of an Ian McEwan novel. The movie's emotional and ethical calculations don't always compute, but director Roger Michell keeps things moving and the opening scene (involving a hot-air balloon) is quite compelling.
Rated: R. Profanity, sexual material.
FINAL CUT (D+) Lame sci-fi starring Robin Williams as a "cutter," a skilled technician who produces memory films from chips that have been implanted in the heads of those of who can afford such a technique. Williams is in full hang-dog mode, Mira Sorvino struggles with an underdeveloped character and James Caviezel (of "Passion of the Christ" fame) grows a beard for a role without religious overtones.
Rated: R. Violence, profanity.
FINDING NEVERLAND (B+) Director Marc Forster ("Monster's Ball") switches gears for a look at how playwright J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp) came to write his most famous play, "Peter Pan." Forster peeks into the creative process, presenting us with scenes that are sweetly conceived, and Depp's performance avoids all traces of sentimentality. Barrie got the idea for "Peter Pan" when he became acquainted with the Llewelyn Davies family, a widowed mother (Kate Winslet) and her four sons. Forster finds some lovely moments but doesn't neglect some of the darker issues in Barrie's life.
Rated: PG.
FORGOTTEN (C) This thriller is marked by grief, loss and a depressing lack of impact. What starts as a promising story about a mother (Julianne Moore) who refuses to accept the death of her 9-year-old son quickly turns into an "X-Files" wannabe. Rich emotional terrain is abandoned for car chases and equally unimaginative plot twists.
Rated: PG-13. Adult subject matter.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (B) A mostly hard-hitting look at Texas high school football in the 1980s. In adapting H.G. Bissinger's 1990 book, director Peter Berg makes a movie that's quick, harsh and decisive in its view of high-school football as a high-pressure mania rather than a pastime. Billy Bob Thornton avoids cliche as the team's coach and we're given brief but telling glimpses into the lives of the players. Derek Luke stands out as a running back whose dreams are cut short by injury.
Rated: PG-13.
THE GRUDGE (C+) Director Takashi Shimizu's "The Grudge" is a slightly Americanized version of his original haunted-house movie, which played around U.S. art houses under the title "Ju-On: The Grudge." Shimizu pretty much replicates the first movie, only with American actors such as Sarah Michelle Gellar and Bill Pullman in key roles. The movie can be creepy, but little by way of additional meaning accrues from the American casting.
Rated: PG-13. Violence and scary sights.
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS (C+) Charlize Theron follows her Oscar-winning performance in "Monster" with an unconvincing turn in a soggy melodrama about a femme fatale who's doing her best not to see the gathering clouds of World War II. Theron's Gilda Besse regards life as a game in director John Duigan's wannabe epic. Joining Theron in this misguided enterprise are a tepid Stuart Townsend, as an Irishman who falls for Gilda but ultimately can't reconcile his ardor with his social conscience, and Penelope Cruz, as a Spanish model who also loves Gilda and who also eventually yields to the demands of conscience.
Rated: R. Nudity, profanity.
HERO (B+) The great Chinese director Zhang Yimou ("Raise the Red Lanterns") enters the martial-arts arena with a movie of astonishing beauty. For all its swordplay and acrobatic flying, "Hero" isn't a total martial-arts blowout. Part ballet and part opera, "Hero" treats its fights as lengthy, color-drenched arias. A nameless warrior (Jet Li) tries to convince a powerful king that he has vanquished three of the king's enemies in a story that's told from a variety of viewpoints.
Rated: PG-13: Martial-arts violence.
I (HEART) HUCKABEES (C-) A dud of a philosophical comedy from director David O. Russell ("Flirting with Disaster" and "Three Kings"). Jason Schwartzman plays an environmental activist who hires existential detectives (Lily Tomlin and Dustin Hoffman) to help him dig through to the core of things. He's also upset about a department store chain — represented by an aggressively friendly public relations man (Jude Law) — that wants to develop a marshy area. Some chuckles but the musings are scattered and half-digested. Watching "I Heart Huckabees" is like being in a room full of people all of whom are talking at once.
Rated: R. Profanity, sexual material.
THE INCREDIBLES (B+) This comic adventure from Pixar and director Brad Bird ("The Iron Giant") evolves out of an inspired idea: A number of Superheroes who have been saving civilization for years are put out to pasture because of a rash of lawsuits. Mired in suburbia and in the obscurity of the Superhero Protection Program, Mr. Incredible (voice by Craig T. Nelson) gets a last chance to revive his flagging stature. A novel and surprisingly wry helping of big-screen comic-book fun featuring voice work from Holly Hunter, Bird and Jason Lee.
Rated: PG.
KINSEY (B+) An intriguing portrait of the life of sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, rendered in a towering performance by Liam Neeson. Kinsey committed himself to gathering data on sexual behavior, and the movie shows how this fit into America of the 1950s. A fine supporting cast includes Laura Linney as Kinsey's wife and Peter Saarsgard as one of his associates. This is adults-only stuff, but the movie succeeds as both a character study and a look at a society that didn't quite know what to make of Kinsey, maybe still doesn't.
Rated: R. Sexual material, profanity, nudity.
LADDER 49 (B) This post-9/11 tribute to firefighters overcomes a somewhat awkward structure to paint a realistic picture of a Baltimore fire company. The story unfolds in flashbacks as we follow the career of an ordinary fireman (Joaquin Phoenix). Phoenix's Jack Morris moves from rookie to veteran under the guidance of his chief and mentor (John Travolta). There's plenty of fire footage, but the movie does best when it's depicting the pressures faced by the men who run into buildings when everyone else is running out. Jacidna Barrett gives a standout performance as Phoenix's wife.
Rated: G-13. Adult humor, profanity, scenes of firefighting.
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES (B) Director Walter Salles ("Central Station") introduces us to the youthful Ernesto "Che" Guevara and to a substantial portion of Latin America in this account of the 5,000-mile journey that the 23-year-old Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) made with companion Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) in 1952. Salles' movie may not do enough to explain Guevara's ultimate leap into revolutionary Marxism, but it's full of the same youthful hunger for experience that must have seized these two young travelers.
Rated: R. Profanity, sexual situations.
NATIONAL TREASURE (C) Producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor") goes easy on the explosives in a story that toys with American history in order to build a treasure-hunting adventure. Nicolas Cage portrays a treasure hunter who believes there's a treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence. He wants to steal the Declaration to protect it from thieves. The movie falls short as either a window into American history or a crackling good adventure. Besides, Cage has had much better outings.
Rated: PG.
OPEN WATER (B+) What do you call several sharks circling a bickering couple that have been stranded in the middle of the ocean? No, this isn't another lawyer joke, but the set-up for a nifty new thriller. And what you call it is "frightening." Susan (Blanchard Ryan) and Daniel (Daniel Travis) are a young husband and wife taking a break from their hectic lives. Tension mounts after their island vacation takes a grim turn. They're left bobbing in the middle of the ocean when their dive boat leaves them behind. Dehydration, fatigue and, oh yeah, sharks pose problems.
Rated: R. Nudity, profanity.
PRIMER (C+) This Sundance FilmFestival favorite serves up an intentionally cryptic helping of garage-bound sci-fi. While working in their garage, a couple of guys accidentally discover a device that can transport them back in time a couple of hours. Mostly, director Shane Carruth has his characters spouting geek-speak in an effort to create a movie that keeps turning in on itself. Carruth has the ability to give his movie momentum, but an atmosphere of compulsion and paranoia doesn't make up for the lack of clarity.
Rated: PG-13.
RAY (A-) Jamie Foxx gives one of the year's best performances as the late, great Ray Charles in Taylor Hackford's broadly appealing biopic. Hackford gives us an entertaining, touching and revealing account of a truly amazing life in which Charles had to overcome blindness and poverty. Hackford honors Charles' grit, talent and determination, but doesn't flinch when it comes to Charles' negative traits: womanizing and a long-standing heroin addiction. And don't overlook the women in Charles' life (ably portrayed by Kerry Washington, Aunjanue Ellis and Regina King). And, yes, the music (almost all of it lip-synched by Foxx) is great.
Rated: PG-13. Adult subject matter, drug use.
SHALL WE DANCE? (D+) A sit-com level remake of the elegant 1996 Japanese movie from director Massayuki Suo. Richard Gere plays a repressed lawyer looking for a new lease on life. He takes dance lessons because he's fascinated by one of the teachers (Jennifer Lopez). Of course, he never tells his wife (Susan Sarandon) why he's gone so much. A botched effort that picks up at the third act when the inevitable dance contest arrives.
Rated: PG-13. Adult subject matter.
SHARK TALE (C+) With its mobbed-up sharks and hip-hop habitats, the animated feature might qualify as the first "fishploitation" film in cinema history. Clearly, the filmmakers were after something eclectic with voice talent — including Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Will Smith, Jack Black and Renee Zellweger — that covers a lot of territory. The resulting effort is a half-funny attempt to fill the screen with pop-cultural fizz and movie references — from "The Godfather" to "Car Wash." A mediocre story about a little fish (Smith) who wants to move to the top of the reef keeps this one from becoming the entertainment colossus that sure was intended.
Rated: PG. Adult humor.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD (B) A British slacker (Simon Pegg) faces off against zombies in a parody that manages to succeed, even though it's traveling over familiar turf. The laughs arrive with satisfying frequency as Pegg tries to deal with a London overrun by flesh-eating zombies. A fine group of comic actors helps keep the comic wheels spinning, even as the movie serves up its share of gore.
Rated: R. Profanity, gross-out humor.
SIDEWAYS (A-) Director Alexander Payne ("Election" and "About Schmidt") has made a touching and funny comedy about a downtrodden wine connoisseur (Paul Giamatti) who takes a trip through California's wine country with a pal (Thomas Haden Church) who's about to be married. Giamatti portrays a character whose life has turned into a perpetual bad day, and Church scores big as his insensitive buddy, an actor who enjoyed a brief moment of success on TV. Payne transcends the conventions of road and buddy movies by rooting his down-to-earth comedy in nourishing soil. Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen illuminate the roles of women the men meet on their journey, and the movie becomes an entirely captivating meditation on how moments that get away easily can turn into wasted lives.
Rated: R. Profanity, sexual material.
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (B+) Stunning and moody in its look, "Sky Captain" amounts to an amazing synthesis — of computerized animation and live action, of new technology and star power and of a contemporary sensibility and appreciation for Hollywood magic of the '30s. This futuristic hybrid may not have the world's greatest story, but it has a fine sense of awe for the movies that made us dream the biggest dreams. Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law join forces to track a deadly killer who's out to destroy the world. Angelina Jolie offers some last-minute help.
Rated: PG.
THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE (B-) SpongeBob finds his way to the big screen along with cohorts Patrick Star and Squidward. The animation is rudimentary, but there's a good-natured quality to the humor. SpongeBob has been a Nickelodeon fixture since 1989. His first feature-length movie doesn't quite hold up all the way through, but it's definitely "mulusk" viewing for the faithful. SpongeBob and Patrick set out to retrieve the king's crown and defeat the overly ambitious Plankton. Silly? Of course, but what do you expect in a movie with a sponge as the hero?
Rated: PG.
STAGE BEAUTY (C+) This 17th-century period piece toys with a number of intriguing ideas but can't bring any of them to more than middling fruition. Aping the spirit of Restoration comedy, the movie tells the story of Edward "Ned" Kynaston (Billy Crudup), purportedly the last male actor to play female roles on the British stage. Crudup does a nice job, better than Claire Danes, who portrays a woman who wants to break an old taboo — appear on stage. The real gem here arrives in the form of Rupert Everett's King Charles, a full fledged royal hoot of a character.
Rated: R. Nudity, sexual material, profanity.
SURVIVING CHRISTMAS (D+) Ben Affleck's presence in a movie is beginning to function like an alarm bell for trouble. This time, Affleck plays a rich guy who pays an average family to let him spend Christmas with them. Affleck approaches comedy with as if it were heavy lifting; i.e., he strains, and no one else in the cast (James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara and Christina Applegate) fares particularly well, either in this ill-conceived Christmas turkey that arrives before we've even had a chance to go trick or treating.
Rated: PG-13.: Off-color material.
TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (B) The "South Park" whiz kids are at it again with this inventive spoof of action movies — and just about anything else that pops into their minds. This time, Trey Parker and Matt Stone stage a Jerry Bruckheimer-style blockbuster with marionettes. A group of warriors fights terrorists in a movie stuffed with songs, gross-out gags and profane humor. The humor can be cruel and tasteless, but there are many very funny bits.
Rated: R. Profanity, mock violence and sexual humor.
VERA DRAKE (B+) Director Mike Leigh's immensely powerful and overwhelmingly sad look at a working-class woman (Imelda Staunton) who becomes an abortionist in Britain during the '50s. Staunton's Vera Drake sincerely believes she's helping women who have been backed into a corner. Staunton paints an indelible portrait of a woman who's altogether too earnest to understand her actions as anything more than a kind of underground community service, and Leigh again does a fine job assaying pressures created by a rigid class structure.
Rated: R. Scenes of abortion that many will find disturbing, profanity.
WHEN WILL I BE LOVED (D+) Those who prefer to temper their voyeurism with trace elements of credible drama may leave director James Toback's latest badly disappointed. Toback ("Black and White") casts Neve Campbell in a contrived story that focuses on the cash nexus that the writer/director evidently finds at the heart of most human transactions, particularly those involving sex. After a lengthy nude shower scene, Campbell settles into a plot that has her sleazy boyfriend (Frederick Weller) trying to sell her sexual favors to a suave Italian nobleman (Dominic Chianese of "The Sopranos"). Toback's comedy of bad manners seems to have little more in mind than finding new ways to give the director's festering observations about Manhattan a kinky pull on the whiskers.
Rated: R. Nudity, sex scenes, profanity.
WICKER PARK (D+) An American director (Paul McGuigan) mangles another French film ("L'Apartement") by caring more for a young and glamorous cast than a plausible and exacting script. The film follows the quest of an ad exec (Josh Hartnett) who thinks he spotted the love of his life (Diane Kruger) in a bar after she mysteriously disappeared on their way to happily-ever-after. But the movie loses its audience with hackneyed twists and a series of coincidences.
Rated: PG: Language.
WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED (B) Michael Schultz directs a movie based on a story by Bishop T.D. Jakes, an evangelical TV preacher who appears in the movie as himself. Rather than seeking converts, Schultz's movie tells a hard-boiled story about a woman on death row (Kimberly Elise in a terrific performance) who reflects on a life in which she was abused by her mother's boyfriend (Clifton Powell). Fine acting all around and an attempt to understand characters more than to judge them.
Rated: R. Profanity, sexual material, violence.
THE YES MEN (C+) This documentary follows the exploits of a couple of pranksters who are out to tweak the system. The Yes Men — Mike Bonanno and Andy Bichbaum — pose as representatives of the World Trade Organization. They advance outlandish ideas — but often are taken seriously. "The Yes Men" has its moments, but they're too few and far between.
Rated: R. Profanity.
(Contact Robert Denerstein at http://www.rockymountainnews.com.)
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